Wednesday brought another chapter in the Paul Pogba versus Jose Mourinho rift, a row that the Manchester United manager claims does not exist, despite so much evidence to the contrary. Today, you can add video evidence to that case as this footage was published by Sky Sports News just two hours ago.
Sky refers to it as “a frosty exchange,” and that’s putting it mildly. We agree with other outlets, who headlined it as an “apparent training ground clash.” Watch the video below, and judge for yourself:
JUST IN! ?
Frosty footage just in from @ManUtd's training session between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho… ??
What has been said between the pair this morning? ? pic.twitter.com/nRiTEgDJlH
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 26, 2018
Pogba gives the look of a kid returning to his first class, and seeing his teacher after being suspended for a week. As for Mourinho, we can’t see his facial expressions too well in this footage, but we can infer from Pogba’s interaction that he probably appeared very menacing. Mourinho has persistently maintained that there is no bad blood between the two men while the media has consistently reported the existence of a rift between the midfielder and manager.
Yesterday saw Mourinho confirm reports that Pogba will not serve as captain for United again. Mourinho made this admission after the Red Devils crashed out of the EFL Cup, losing their first match in the competition to Derby County in a penalty shoot out.
Pogba was dropped from the match day squad entirely last night, but Mourinho still claims he has no issue with the Frenchman.
“The only truth is that I made the decision for him not to be second captain any more but there is no fallout, no problem,” Mourinho told reporters after the game.
“I am the manager I can make these decisions.”
Speaking on Sky Sports he later added: “No fallout at all, no problem at all, just a decision that I don’t have to explain.”
This latest spat probably stems from Pogba’s telling the media on Saturday that United must play more attacking football at home, and get away from the defensive tactics Mourinho is synonymous with. Pogba made the comments after United played heavy underdogs Wolverhampton Wanderers to a draw, repeating the sentiments of Mourinho, who ripped the team’s attitude in that match. It seems like full on dysfunction junction is going on at Old Trafford.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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